Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/289

Rh Have I, to countervail my daughter lost: —

Scant guerdon, yet fair honour for mine house.

May I not then,—the slave, the outcast I

From my sire's halls, whose wretched home is here,—

Mother, may I not take that heaven-blest hand?

Here be these bondmaids: trouble not thyself.

How?—me thou mad'st thy spear-thrall, banished home:

Captive mine house was led, and captive I,

Even as these, unfathered and forlorn.

Such fruit thy father's plottings had, contrived

Against his dearest, all unmerited.

Yea, I will speak; albeit, when ill fame

Compasseth woman, all her tongue drops gall—

As touching me, unjustly: let men learn

The truth, and if the hate be proved my due,

'Tis just they loathe me; if not, wherefore loathe?

Of Tyndareus was I given to thy sire—

Not to be slain, nor I, nor those I bare.

He took my child—drawn by this lie from me,

That she should wed Achilles,—far from home